V -'-. r. t 'V, f-.t ."- ' T. 80 'THE SUND'AY OREGONlAy; POETNIr fARrC 1900. a3acaLrf,j -JySSSSW ZteXfLE ofe WWDS By SCllpCKElT V PtYtures by G.A.SfflPLEY Synopsis of Previous Chapters. Sir James Etansfleld. of New Mllna, In com pany with hU grandson, young Philip, meets In an lxmhouso his son Philip and his son's para mour. Janet Mark. They quarrel. Elr James goes home, taking his grandson. That night h Is murdered by his dissolute son and Janet Mark. They lay his body outside on an loe floe. In the effort to lay the crime to others. But the boy Philip has witnessed the crime. lie tells his grandfather's chief tenant. Cmphray Epurway. who succeeds In nalng the real mur derers brought to Justice. Philip Is sentenced to be hanged, and his woman accomplice. to be transported, Mysteriously he escapes the gal lows, fieeks out his wife, finds her In the com pany of Spurway. and tries to murder her, but does not quite succeed. She Is taken away to Abercairn for cure, leaving her son In charge of Spurway and with little Anna Mark, who teaches him that In some ways girls arc worth quite as much as boys. Still, they are excel lent friends, even though she beats him at her studies In the school to which they go. John Stansneld, Philip's lawyer-uncle, brings In a new teacher. Dominie Rlngroee, a small man, with wonderful eyes. Shortly after his coming the countryside Is shocked and thrilled by a number of bloody and mysterious murders, evi dently for the sake of robbery. Business calls Umphray Spurway from home. In bis absence a big packing case, purporting to be full of line Spanish wool. Is delivered to Will Bowman. Umphray's clerk, who puts it In the weaving shed. That night Philip, playing about it. ores shining through the gauze a pair of eyes. He calls Will Bowman, who counts three, then stabs the case with a small sword. Blood flows. They open the case, and find Dominie Rlngrose Inside, apparently dead. Shortly after the house Is attacked by robbers, whom Ring rose had meant to let In. They are beaten off; but afterwards Philip's mother refuses to let him spend the holidays at New Milns. Return ing from a day's visit to New Mlins, Philip falls In with Saul Mark. Anna's gypsy father, who. tinder pretense of showing him Sir Harry Morgan's treasure, makes him a prisoner. .Anna finds out his plight, and leads Spurway on his track. By the help of his silent partner. Provost Gregory Partan. Saul Mark, super cargo of the ship Corramantee. Imprisons both Anna and Spurway, robbing Spurway of much money and a portrait of Philip's mother. Philip the elder goes out In Epurways cloak to his wife's house, and by threats Induces her aboard the Corramantee. Anna and Philip make friends with Eborra. He shows them the secrets of the Island, and where Sir Harry Morgan's treasure Is. guarded by Fer-de-lance and his hosts. Eborra has scented a boat, in which he plans to escape with Anna. Philip, Mrs. Stansneld and his mother: slso Will Bowman, who is In the clutches of the pirate. The pirates sail away with two or three ships. The boat starts, encounters other pirates, but Is towed safely away by a monster devil fish. The boat reaches Puerto Rico In safety, and Its Inmates approach a convent seeking help. The convent takes In the women. The men go into a chain gang. It Is making a road for the pleasure of the governor's wife. She chances to pass along, and Will Bowman and Philip discover her to be Janet Mark, little Anna's mother. Janet Mark, now the Lady Juanlta Sllveda. stands friend to her country men, but they soon find It Is a perilous favor. (Copyright. ISM. under the name of "Little Anna Mark." by S. R. Crockett.) (Copyright, 1K. by S. H. Crockett.) CHAPTER XL.I. (Continued.) Then Donna Juanlta talked to us Jn English, or more often In the Moreham Scotch of the more vulgar sort, while her husband, not being able to under stand a word, eat and fidgeted, or stood by the window kicking his heels and tangling his spurs in the hangings, not daring to say a word. Save that I thought on the chain gang and the Inquisition. I could have found it In my heart to be fiorry for him. Donna Juanlta listened to the relation ol our escape with the greatest interest, till, asking where the others of our party were, she suddenly bade her husband go back Incontinent to the monastery and fetch all who had come with us In the boat. "I taw a well-looking young lad at the nunnery wall. It Is not fair that he should stay there to play bob-cherry over so many watering mouths!" The commandante hesitated, as It were hanging tn the wind for an excuse to stay. "I 6hall send a messenger Immediately." he said, "It Is more lining, and the heat of the day Is great." I bade you go and bring them. Nlcho- V 5nM Tt.i-.ltn ,..... I . .t i ... las with Will. n"ni """"" -""i""e ner taiK The Governor shuffled toward the door. ;,..., eyP?' fu" ot fur5'- wero turned on AMU and myself. I wished that Juanlta had not showed herself quite so friendly. In a few moments, however, we heard tho rattle of horses' feet. and. looking through the curtains. I beheld this most luxurious Military Governor, with a single atten dant, speeding away in the direction of the monastery of St. John of Brozas. "I think," began Will, rising uneasily, "that I should go and meet" ""Sit down!" cried the lady, quoting a Spanish proverb. "The only folly I cannot forgive Is Ingratitude, the only sin stu p.dlty. Time enough to greet your folk when they nrrivc!" f? .PMfrVv.e had t0 slt down oea'n. and tell the lady -many things to fill up tne time, I spoke of my mother, but could not summon resolution to tell her of Anna. Ana Indeed If any one will take the trouble to think on all the circumstances. I judge that he will not greatly blame me. So that, be It well believed. It was with a tremulous heart that I waited the advent of my mother and Little Anna Mark. " CHAPTER XLIL Jezebel's Ds.URh.ter. Before her husband's return tho lady had time to tell us all her adventures, now standing by Will's stool and playing with his hair, anon gazing out at the window. She spoke of Moreham. She queried con cerning New Milns. Tet all the time she continued to Inform us In the com mon accent of the vulgar that she only knew these places from having visited at the house of a noble family In the nelch borhood. "It was in her leddyship's time that I gaed malstly about Clay Pots." she said, with the careless hauteur born of high breeding, "aye. aye. fell fond o' me was hir pulr leddyshlp. an' tried hard to get up a match atwecn me an her auldcst eon Halrry. that Is noo my lord. But na no for Leddy Johanna Macklnstry that was royeel'. My maiden name we maun ken. I fairly scorned him. I julst couldna bear to look at him. And then a things gaed wrang when the guld cause gacd to the war: an' at the last, me that wns sae proud, was stown awa frae my native land!" Anon she would relapse into a number of Spanish proverbs, and the curious thing was that so soon as she ceased telling talcs of her own Invention and began to porallze after the manner of her adopted -ountry. she spoke good enough English, relinquishing completely the common Scots" manner of speech. "But there I have come to a country where the slaves are the only free men, where I must put ud with fool nnrt knaves and sing 'Why left I my homer Tet God be thanked. I can make them serve me. If a dog barks at you, give him a bone: and death Is the only elck ness for which there is no remedy. But what keeps my husband? He has had time to have been there and back a score of times. What Is your name, young ladf "Philip r i said, without Adam? my surname. "Ah I" she meditated, "one I kenned a Philip but he did not favor you: far otherwise. Indeed!" She looked me over a little disdainfully, and I blushed (I fear .somewhat foolishly), knowing of whom she spoke. It was not vanity, God wot. For I know well I was never so tall or so well favored as my father. But so long as Anna thought otherwise, I cared naught for the opinion of any other. "Now. Philip, go and. And my husband!" she said to me. "Tell him to make haste, for I am Instant to see those who came from the pirate Isle with you." I started up and was at the door in a moment, but Will was before me. But this the lady would In no wise permit. She thought more of Will's bodily presence than of mine, being older. 1 suppose a thing that made me glad, and I resolved to vex will afterward by cast ing up to him the lady's preference "Bide, Englishman," she said, "let young Abercairn go!" At which Will had perforce to return against his will and I departed well con tent. But I was none so well pleased with the sight that met me outside of the town. For mounted on mules and canter ing ponies I met a whole cavalcade. First came my mother on a steady pacing beast of a gray color. She had on a kind of nun's dres with a white nand across the forehead. In which I hated to seo her. A brown rosary was about her neck, and she looked as It she had spent all her life within convent walls, this owing not so much to piety as to the delicate purity of her complexion, of which she always took the greatest care. Next came the old witch woman, carried In a sort of rude Utter by two stalwart negroes, while Eborra ran beside her. ready to render any assistance which might be necessary. But the last pair caused nj the great est astonishment of all. For' Anna rode boy fashion on a fiery little steed with the Commandante beside her on his black. She was still dressed In the manner which some of the Spaniards have learned from the Indians; that Is to say. In a youth's suit of dressed deerskin, fringed and bead ed. A short tanned skirt of fine doeekln came a little Below her knees. Cross gartered hosen, little peaked Indian shoes and a feathered cap completed an attire pretty Indeed to look upon, but one which, appearing In Moreham Kirk on a Sab bath morn, would have raised a revolu tion In all the parochln. All the time the commandante was de vouring Anna with his eyes, while as for the minx herself, as usual, she was eking out ner Droken Spanish with her eye- I ft W AS ' lashes. "No puede. senorl' she as saying, "no mfl nfnm " What It was that the senor could not do. or why Anna wanted more water. I cannot tell. Most likely the whole was but an excuse to make play with her darkly roguish eyes. For it was about this time that Anna began to snow a consciousness of her beauty wholly new, and I will admit that, though I mlsllked It at the time, afterwards It was pleas ing to recall her little successes, and how she served this one and that other, know ing all the time that her heart was alto gether mine. Presently they all came within the ln closure of the castle. I hclpl my mother down from tne saddle as from a castle wall, who, when she had disentangled her self, fell Into my arms and wept over mc. The first question she asked was whether Umphray Spurway had yet arrived. And when I told her "no" "Ah. then," she murmured, "he Is surely on his way!" Over my mothers shoulder I could see the red-faced commandante, who had dis mounted In puffing haste, holding out his arms to catch Anna In the free island manner. But of this Anna would have nothing, for with a merry laugh, tho little witch leaped nimbly down, resting only the tips of her fingers lightly on Don Nicholas' outstretched arm. Whereupon the gallant soldier of the most Catholic King bent him on one knee In the dust of the exer cising yard, and kissed the small brown hand which Anna permitted him to retain. "Why, what harm? I thought I was do ing the best for all of usl" said my lass afterward, and gave not a fig for any dlc trine or proof of mine. But all the same It had been better If she had chosen an other spot for her Ill-set tricks than Imme diately beneath tho window of Mistress Juanlta Sllveda. Will Bowman told me of it nftrnmni "I was standing by the window sulky as a dog that you have kicked." said Mas ter Will, "and I wished I had been one, too. For the woman came ajid leaned upon mc faugh and pawed my hair and breathed upon my neck OH I thought I would have burst, or It may be, clouted her on the car. Had I not remembered that she was our only hope Indeed, but for your moth er's sake and Anna's I would let drive at the besom with my foot," I said something here. "Oh, that be hanged for a tale. CWill did not often swear.) I knew as soon as I clapped eyes on her that the trollop was no more of a lady than Tip. our cat. that rakes the roofs in the midnight! And as I say, if it had not been for your moth er, I would have knifed her and thrown her over the window to the dogs, like that other besom In the Bible Jezebel, was that not her name? I heard Miss John read about her In the kirk once. And a. rare tale it was, too! "Then, all suddenly. I had ease'lndecd." Will went on. "for It chanced that Jezebel looked out of the window over my shoul der and there upon the plaza she saw King Aham kneeling. If you please, on the hard mud to our Anna, decked out like a stripling from a play-acting booth, all flno with beads and tags and gauds. And she. well looking down at him like the little vixen she Is. "Well then I tell you. she was in a rare taking. My lady thought no more of breathing down my nck. By the head of Noll, will a cat lick her pawn when sho can l.ck cream? Jezebel stamped her foot and clenched her hands, looking as If she would have leaned down from the window upon the pair of them. She strode up and down like one of Lag's troopers in a cov enanting house, and when at last the door opened I expected her every moment to fly at Anna as she came in. "And she would, too only that the Don camo first, and the brunt of her anger fell on him. He quailed and stammered as Indeed you heard him. His own flno Cas tilllan failed him In the hour of need as If It had been a foreign tongue. " 'Foul toad, spawn of a mud bank,' she cried, "you would betray me to mv fu- "" ""t wjmi a siuy ape-zaced girl, tho slave of a slave? By our lady. I will mTr her. She shall no longer witch fools with her upward glances. I will pluck out her eyes pyke them as corbies do ' "At this, thinking that she would do eren as she said, I came between. In a moment she had a dagger drawn on me, the which she stuck through my forearm. JrL M&m lj - ,. CC-'J-T-J. mtJii. . O', . .. "WITH TREMBLING Then, plucking It out again, she flew like a fury upon Anna, and If you, Philip, had not gotten between them, I trow she would have had It In her heart." Thus far. Will. I may as well tell thercst In my own plain tale. I did step pctweeu tho two, for Anna kept her ground gal lantly as the wife of the commandante rushed at her with dagger uplifted. "Hold. Janet Mark!" I cried loudly, catching hold of her: "do not kill your own child. Sho struggled wildly for a minute as I held her by the wrist. "She Is your own child, your little Anna Mark!" I repeated In a calmer tone. And the second time the spoken words did not fall of their effect. "Little Anna Mark!" she repeated after me. uncertainly, pausing between each word. "Aye. Anna Mark. Indeed,' I continued: "the babe you bade farewell to on tho steps of Moreham kirk. I kenned you. Janet Mark, even as soon as I clapped eyes on you!" I expected every moment that she would turn on me and order us all to the sal lows, being In fear lesf her husband should discover her for the thing she was. Bui I -misjudged the woman. Sin like this woman's debases the heart, but It does not kill natural affection. She looked at Anna long and keenly. The stiletto, or thln-bladed albacete knife dropped from her hand. She ran forward, caught her daughter by the shoulders nnd ! eagerly perused herfeatures. '. Tt conna be It canna-lt canna." she cried aloud In country speech; "this Is no my wee lass my bonny wo lasa that I left sae far awa'!" Atma stood mute, looking questtonlngly from one to the other of us. "This is. Indeed. Little Anna Mark," said my mother; speaking for the first time, "but Philip doats. You are not her mother. Her mother wan nn evil woman, a murderess. She, was transported for her crime. She was sold for a slave In tho plantations of Carolina." Now, thought I. -we are done for. Indeed. Recognizing a hostile voice, Janet Mark turned on my mother. "Who are your.' sho said with a sud denly whitened face. "l am Philip Btansfield's wife." an- swercd my mother calmly, "and this Is mX STr ,. ,.,. j. .. .. i . Janet Mark lifted her hands and hid her "v n. m ... . ... Philip Stansfleld s wife! she mux- ! mured, and again. "Philip Stansfleld's wife. God be merciful to me a sinner!" Then sho turned to where her husband, I Don Nicholas, was standing open-mouthed, not understanding a word of our discourse. but following with hungry curiosity every gesture and action. She held out a hand to htm. "Take me away." ehe sold In Spanish. She kept hrr eyes averted from Anna's pale face with Its look of wondering in nocence. In which was yet no fear. "My little Anna Mark!" sho repeated wistfully, like one in a dream. And. as the door closed upon the com mandante and his wife my mother sank down in a. dead faint Into Will Bowman's arms. Anna and I looked at each other, while Eborra'. mother muttered Incanta tion after Incantation as if to appease an angry demon. And truly all the demons of circum stance and misfortune seemed to dog our track, and for the .first time In all our wanderings I began to despair. CHAPTER XLIII, The Castaways. And had I. with the doubtful wm.i & of Eborra?. StehTte."bS MS- .nHpJlU.eV.-i able tp see that which was approachln the Isle of Ban Juan, I might well have said to myself that malignant demons were following; our trail. But as It was I could not discern a certain .small boat far out to sea-a boat which seemed to drift here and there, yet which notwithstanding progressed nearer and ever nearer to our Island. There -were two men In It. one of them Wing at full length In the bottom with nla face In the shadow of a thwart. He had his head turned away. The other at "With one hand in his bosom. The other was laid occasionally on the tiller, from which It would drop off again In a moment. For the dull, rlery glow from the slanting sun made the Iron of tbo tiller bar as hot as the bans of a grate, falling at the same time upon the pros trate man and turning a pair of largo silver earrings into hoops of burning cop per. The man at tho tiller looked down as his companion turned bis head and moaned. He slid his hand into a locker and drew from It a case bottle and a small cluster of bananas. Then he held the bottle up to the light, turning It up side down to seo how much liquid re mained in it. The wide neck was scarce ly filled. The next moment Captain Philip Stans fleld. late of the Corramantee and of the Isle of the Winds, was supporting the bead of Saul Mark on his knee and pour ing the last drops of rum down his throat. He did not reserve so much as one drop for himself. To all intents the man he now stooped FI.GEItS HE OPEXED THE BOX AXD to succor had been dead. The slight I movements he made from time to time wero no more than the spasm .of im minent rigor. But the strong liquid pene trated to the springs of life. The heavy eyelids were slowly upraised, life looked out of tho bloodshot eyeballs. The soul of the man awoke and showed n mo ment like an evil beast nt the mouth ot his lair. Saul Mark recognized the fact that was bent over him, and the faint somblance of a grin twitched his mouth downward and to one side. "Still a sea-mile to windwnrd of hell. Philip!" he murmured, and closed his eyes with a, singular gleam of triumph in them. Captain Stansfleld sighed and went on trying to force a piece of crumbled banana between tho clenched teeth. "Not yet." he murmured: "not yet Death alone shall release me from my bond. I "will pay the price yes, to the uttermost farthing I will pay!" And lifting his eyes, ho saw blnck across the crimson arc of the sinking sun, very far away, the sierra of tht isie ot san Juan do Puerto Rico. It Was a Week or two aftprwnrrt thnt I the lady Juanlta Sllveda. who had re- ' covered fronNher brief Indisposition, and now went out more than ever, ordered out her carriage that she might tnke the air. With her went Anna, by reason of th sudden favor which had descended ,upon her. Indeed, the scnora could not bt parted from the girl, scarcely for nn hour. A b"lroom had been hastily thrown InU "ifiT.J,.1""""- rX""' ", , ; "T " ' """"? h""'" officers from old Spain .iwore under their breaths that Donna Juanlta had sudden ly gone mad. For they said It was easy tosce that Don Nicholas had fallen over head nnd ears ("and" that last Is a long fall." murmured Ramon Garcia. Lieu tenant of Artillery) In lovo with the young English girl, whose eyes are like ftr matches and whoso skin like tho roso leaves of the huerta of Arlhuela. "Carramba. scnora." quoth Don Ra mon, curling his moustnchlos. "It Is a shame that one ehlny-pated old command ante with a forehold on him like the port of Spain galleon should monopolize the only well-looking women In the planta tion. XjAt (hem olmtA nrm lnt ttiAm I choose. Trust a woman's eye for plck- inr- it nn. .. - - .., ,- And with his conclusion Don Ramon swung tho end of his cloak over his shout- der nnd about his mouth, according tc tho Pinion of the Murclnns: who. being condemned to grill six months of the year in holl-flre heat, and to shiver tho other six In an ley Gehennn. use their cloaks Indifferently to moderate the rigors of either. There was also much jeauousy among the officers concerning WW and myself. And many there were, racked with fever and disappointment, fingered their dag gers when they found themselves passed over In fnvor of a pair of heretics fresh from the chain gang, whose only merit was that they knew something about the duties to which they had been appointed. For ready to our hands (and some what readier to Will's than to mine), wt found a weaving shed where Indians nnd half-breeds, negro slaves nnd mulatto freedmen, starving colonists ond men too weak for the chain gang, wrought side by side 'n the weaving of the striped eernpes, the thlek-wefted ponchos, tho gauzy mosquito nets and the comforting Mexican blankets. By virtue of the commandante's favor Will was placed In charge of this, and having appointed me for his lieutenant, ho set about reorganizing the whole after Umphray Spurways model with his own quick decision. Now in theso new colonies there is no such thlnr as promotion by merit. Of fices are given and taken with, retard only to the amount of money cr per quisite which is attached or attachable to them. So that a sea captain will man age a gold tdlne or superintend a mint, take charge of a government printing press or start a sugar plantation with equal readiness, being noways conoerned at any Ignorance of his duties, but hav ing only a single eye to any plunder which might stick to his fingers. So that when Will dispossessed the in capable superintendent of the Puerto Rico cloth weaving- (a distinguished "san crado" or island doctor), he naturally made a bitter enemy or rather many. For every holder of a comfortable sin ecure feared that one or other of these pushing, irrepressible English would su persede him and divert the plunder from donnish breech-pockets to those of the King of Spain. But Eborra and. his mother, by using their great influence among- the blacks and Indian half-breeds, kept us informed of the plots to assassinate us as we passed through the forest. So that whe tho masked bravos sprang from the bushes Albocete, knife In one hand, cloak wrapped about the other arm, we were ready for them with our swords; bare in our hands and hastened towards our assailants with loud cries. These incontinently turned tall and vanished, even on one occasion plung ing Into thickets of prickly pear In their desperation. A clstol shot out of the wood was a more dangerous Incident, and they be came almost a feature of our pilgrim oars. GLAXCED WITniX. till, consulting the commandante.' we ob tained two men as escort. So, with great bell-mouthed muskets loaded with slugs. we marched to and fro. the muzzle of each piece laid affectionately over the shoulder of a Saanlsh soldier. In this manner we had peace, nnd the weaving prospered In our hands. Every Sunday we went to the convent to see my mother and to do what offices of kindness we might to the poor fellows of the chnln gang who bad once been our comrades. But I began to tell of Donna Juanlta's excursion to take tho air. Anna went with her. still wearing her frlnzed In dian hunting dress, which she found ex ceedingly convenient. And In beaded leg gings, fringed skirt of tanned doeskin, quilled blouse, pearled with silver buttons of Potosi. and close-fitting cap, daintily feathered, who but Anna Mark "was a sight for sore eyes." as the saying is at Moreham? The soldiers at the fort watched for her, hollow-eyed with fever, and shook as they waited. The negroes worshiped her as though she had been a divinity. The commandante walked bo- b)a her nrlth hla h In M Y,arA nA marvel 'of marvels, the Lady Juanlta seemed more fond of her than of any other, so much so that it was almost Impossible to find them separate by night or day. I know not what tale tho Lady Juanlta had told Anna to account for her own transportation across the seas. I have never asked Anna from that day to this. Probably It was some Invention of cap ture by pirates at sea, or kidnaping at home, as would appear the more credi ble. In thjt It had been her own fate. At nil ovents. Anna, willing, though not rejoiced, to be claimed as a daughter by this handsome and powerful lady, endured many caresses, in the hope that thus one day she might be able to bring us alt safe back to our native land. But this thought had to be severely concealed from the Lady Juanlta, who, naturally enough, had no Intention of re visiting Scotland. "Two years. Anna," she would say. "and with our economies we will bo able to return to old Spain! Nicholas has promised It. We shall see the glories of tho king's court. I shall have my car riage repainted, and a new coat of arms blazoned. Nicholas will receive the order of the Golden Fleece. I have heard that the king himself has expressed a desire to seo me. He likes fine women, so they say. You as my my younger sister shall accompany me. We will marry you to a grandeo of Spain. You shall have a Win ter house In Madrid, a Summer villa on the mountains at La Granja, where the court goes. Nicholas Is rich. We have no children. Alt he has shall be yours and mine. If anything should happen to htm welt, who knows I may marry again. The Spanish rave about women of my complexion." To all this Anna listened without re monstrance or making objection. For, as she said to me afterwards, when I spoke to her about marriage with a grandee ot Spain: "No, I did not refuse. For, you know well. Spain is so far on the road home, and if wo can get a passage thither and means to make Umphray acquainted with our case, we shall all see the Mlln house again and hear tho water lashing over the weir." For, as all may see, Anna had an old head on young shoulders, and no idea of bartering the shadow for the sub stance. So long therefore as the grandee abode in the background, she was quite wiumg mat ner motner should talk as much as she pleased about marriage In tho abstract. All the same, I knew ehe had no Idea of marrying any Spaniard, prince or becsar. Atxmt that X vo my self no coBcsra whatsoever. It was talklnc in this fashion that Anna and her mother rode forth towards the neTT road on wnie the gangs of half naked men were at work, their chains f r?11-?11 tlrJUtner whUo tho cracking of tna driver's whips resounded from one end of the busy antheap to the other. l rri? P in the red 57 "a "ernoo the outriders were suddenly stopped by some obstruction on m 5jlwy. Voices cried confusedly and whips smacked as the negro gang masters strove to clear the road for the wile of the commandant. Juanlta looked put of the belly of the coach. She was in a good humor. She had that moment married Anna to a prince of tho blood and settled Don Nicholas under a marble monument as heavy as a church. "Ah, a poor man fallen down! It Is those accursed chains in the heat ot the day. It is cruel indeed! But why people will not worship in the fashion of the country when they live In a country, I cannot understand. Stand out of the way there, fellow! Your hand, Anna. I will descend. I will descend! Bring the strong spirit with you; we will revive the poor man. Take your black haunches out of a lady's way. wilt your' And so with loud, humoreome authority she caused a way to be cleared. In a mo ment more Anna found herself looking at two men chained even as we had been one was gray of head, the other blade one was elder and the other younger, but both were gaunt and haggard and naked oven to the iron rings about their waists. The elder had the head of the younger on his knees at the moment when the two women came up. The younger opened his eyes. "Let me go! he murmured. "Why do you torment me? Let me go to my own place! You are a devlln And the elder answered him with a ter rible grimace of hate. "I will never let you go. Death Itself shall not release you. I will haunt you. follow you. live with you. You shall not die, but live on chained to the man you wronged. Philip Stans fleld. my debt is not yet half paid!" But tho younger man had araln fnfntaA Then even as Lot's wife stood above the gate of Sodom, slowly chilling from warm throbbing- flesh and blood into a pillar of salt, so stilled and stiffened to breathing stone Btood the Lady Juanlta. At the first opening of the press she had gazed with growing horror on that which lay before her. The silver rings in tho ears of tho gray-headed man fascinated her. Sho could not pluck her eyes from them. Her lips moved or rather her jaw. "What what what whatr' she gasped as If her voice had spoken of Itself with out impulse of her will. The man with the sliver rings lifted hh head. The surprise must have been even greater to him than to tbo woman. Yet he manifested no smallest wonder. Not a quiver passed over his brown wrinkled countenance. "Ah. Joe Janet!" wns all he said. And though the woman stood there rich ly uressea ana ine man oeiore ner was chained and well nigh naked, the tones were those of a master who speaks to a slave. Then he seemed to recall him. self to the case of his companion. "A happy reunion!" he said, while the crowd of blacks and soldiers stood and gaped, psrtly at the foreign tongue and partly at the ladles. "Philip must not miss this I will wake him!" And stooping down he bit his compan ion's ear till it bled, as calmly as a priest who gives tho sign of absolution. A whip cracked and the lash hissed across the naked back of the man with tho silver rings. It was Eborra, who stood before them quivering with anger. "Let the captain alone!" he cried, "let him alone, Saul Mark." Saul Mark raised his head and looked .at Eborra. "Yellow Jack!" he sold, calmly. "Wen the wheel has turned once It may turn again. I shall not forget." CHAPTER XLTV. Snnl Mark's Whisper. But the savage reveille had been suc cessful. Philip Stansfleld slowly rose to a sitting posture. His eyes, glazed and sunk en, gazed about at first vaguely, then with growing terror and comprehension. The Lady Juanlta stood still as It carved In marble, her hands gripping each other convulsively. Anna had passed an arm about her mother, and now half-supported the elder woman, looking like a tall young Indian In her hunting skirt ot fringed and beaded skins. Saul Mark watched his comrade's fac with a certain grim and malicious pleas, ure. laughing a little as he did so. "Janet Janot Mark!" ejaculated the re vivified man. panting and gasping In his turn even as the woman had done, and for the time could say no more, but sav up gazing wildly as though he had seen a specter. "Journeys end In lovers meeting!" the words seemed to burn and smoke like add that is poured on copper. "Philip Stans fleld and his paramour kiss one another embrace! Is all forgotten between you! Have ye found other mates? Fie fle thus to deny each other, who sinned to gether! Think of the blood shed for that cause! Consider" But he got no farther. For there In the midst stood forth the woman whom his presence hod affected with such deadly terror. But ,now sho was no longer the Lady Juanlta Sllveda. Sho was Janet Mark, tho felon. "Aye," she cried. "I bid you consider the blood shed and who shed it! You. Saul Mark, drop by drop! The guilt may be mlno and his. That I deny not. But before God the Judge, tho blood-shedding was yours first and last. By your sug gestion and compelling I sinned and fell. I suffered for your crime. And he he " She paused as If at a loss for words. Saul Mark laughed a low, cackling laugh, nodding his head at the same time. Ho had crossed his legs under him and eat upon his feet, the chains that were upon him stretched to their utmost, looking like some hideous malignant Idol of the Orient. "What of him aye. what of hlmr ha chuckled. "Are Philip Stansfleld's sins mine, toor' "Aye. by God's great name, are they. Saul (Mark!" she cried, "yours yours youra!" "You arc "generous with other people's sins, Janet," said Saul Mark. "Pray keep one or two for yourself, lest you grow lonely in your old age!" But she went on. her voice rising with every word till It rang out Into a shriek as she pointed her finger at Saul Mark, the man who was still her husband. Then Captain Stansfleld raised his head and sold, speaking very quietly, "Janet, the greater sin Is ours alone. Iet us endure the Test! Be silent as I have been!" There was a sudden commotion on the other side of the widening circle. Most of the men had shrunk away, fearing they knew not what. Perhaps the foreign tongue used In anger had a strange sound to them. And there, through the gap. could We seen the abbot of San Juan de Brozas and the Grand Inquisitor, sitting upon their mules, listening the abbot dark, stern and Inscrutable as ever, the man of tho holy office with his head Inclined, blrdllke. to catch every word. "Your servant!" said the latter, bow ing, "my lady, are these more friends of ypurs? You are most fortunate in friends. Providence Is Indeed kind to you." He turned to Saul Mark. "And you. my friend, are you also from Scotland and of the Scottish persuasion Is religion r "I am Indeed of Scotland," said Saul, rising to his feet respectfully, and speak ing In admirable Spanish so that all might understand, "but I am a humble follower of the true and ancient faith. I claim your protection, most reverend fathers. In this cause I have suffered much." "By what sign shall we know that you speak the truth, my eonr' said the Grand Inquisitor, cunningly. "By two Infallible proofs," answered Saul with readiness: "by this that I shan show you in my hand, and by the word wnich I shall whisper in your ear." He slid down his hand and fumbled in the dirty breech clout which alone clad mm sparsely about the loins. Then he held up a hfK at Tlno end of which swung a cross and as gmn golden re liquary. "This Z naive carried with me ever since at Rome, at the tombs of the apos tles, the holy father himself delivered to me this blessed relic of St. James the martyr!" Ha gave the chain and box into the ab bot's hand, who received tt with lowly reverence, crossing himself and commend ing himself to the saints and espedolly to St. James, the blessed proto martyr. With trembling fingers he opened the box and glanced within. A folded letter lay on top, written upon a sheet of vel lum fine as a butterfly's wing. The grand Inquisitor almost snatched it In hls eager ness. "It Is true! It is xenulnet" he cried. "This is the holy father's own hand and runlcatlon. I have seen it in the holy office at Madrid, commanding to greater diligence in the burning of heretics. Bless ed blessed most blessed the attestation In Latin and all most complete! How came you by this great marveir "I am a rude and unlearned man," sold Saul, with a low bow. "but It was my lot to receive It for a service I did the holy father. I have kept It till now. I have been In peril of great waters, in fear of my Ufe among cruel pirates and dead ly heretics. But now. most reverend fathers. I give you this blessed reliquary, that you may keep It in the church of your noble abbey. I am not worthy to be the custodian of such a treasure. It is yours." The abbot fairly blushed with pleasure. "It will make us as celebrated as Com postella," he said. "We shall have pil grimages from all tho world to this, my abbey of St. John of Brozas. We will re name it. St. James shall It be the very completely to be venerated Santiago da Brozas!" "So rare a relic wouM be wasted here." said the grand Inquisitor, suavely, bal ancing the golden casket tn hl; hand. "I will take It back to the King of Spain at Madrid, and for it he win make me abbot of Poblet. I have always desired that post, their prlorato wlno Is so good. And for such a treasure even Poblet were not too much to bestow." During this colloquy Anna had conveyed tho Lady Juanlta to her carriage, where now she eat palo and Inert, leaning back among the cushions like one who had had a deadly stroke. At this moment tho commandante rode np hastily. He had too long been out of sight of Juanlta and Anna. So he came ot the gallop, riding like one of the sons of Tehu. He caught sight of the golden box and Saul Mark standing erect. The heads ot the monks were very close together. In an instant he hod grasped the situation, or at least a part ot It. Treasure had been found on one of the castaways who last had recruited tho chain gang. The black ravens ot Brozas had swooped upon It. The Captain of Spain bore them no good will. The gold box was his It contained Jewels of price, most like. He would soon show these derks who was master on the island of St. John of Puerto Rico whether they or he, Nicholas Sllveda, Commandante in the service of His Most CathoUo Majesty, Ferdinand, ICIng of all the Spalns. "Give It here,' he cried: "all treasure Is the prerogative of His Majesty King Ferdinand. I claim that which Is found, whatever It may be, as his alone!" "Excellency," said the inquisitor, with deference, "this is not found trtasure. It is a gift to the holy church, being a box containing the blessed parings of the great toenails of a martyr. Such even the King himself could not claim, were he here in personr "The box la gold. I claim that!" cried the Commandante, truculently. "The box !b tho gift of the holy father, the successor of Peter," cold the priest. "It cannot be separated from the blessed relics it enshrines!" "Deliver it or I wfll take it by force!" cried the ofilcer fiercely. For in hl3 heart be hated and feared the rival authorities of the monastery. "Forward, there, men! Sleze hunt" The two priests put their bands to their sides swiftly as a horseman draws a pis tol from his holster. And the next mo ment a crucifix was in each right hand. They held it toward the Commandante and his soldiers, who shrank back ta they would not have done from the muzzles of hostile guns. "Dare to lay a hand on the priests ot tho Lord." cried the abbot, towering above them all on his white mule, "and we will wither the blasphemous fingers and de liver to eternal fire the eoul of the dese cratort By these reUcs ot the blessed mar tyr. James, we swear ltl" And so for a. 'space they remained thus, daring the powers military to come on. The Commandante was speechless with wrath, but, looking about, he saw well enough that hia men would not obey him nor yet seize those headstrong eons of tho church. "I shall not forget Qsia," he said, turning away. "Do not." returned the inquisitor, gently. "I pray that you will remember. Let It bo a lesson to you. my eon." The churchmen were riding off together when Saul Mark, seeing himself forsaken, cried out to them: "Have pity, deliver me. They wilt wreak their vengeance on me. Take me with you, reverend fathers In God. Do not forsake me, who did this thing for your sakes!" But the abbot and the-inquisitor seemed not to hear. They had obtained all they cared about, and what mattered a naked man In the chain gang. Tho reliquary was a reliquary. authenticated by the holy father or, at least, well enough documented for their t purpose. But most like the man was a pirate, and got it ai the sacking of soma town of good Catholics, or mayhap from a plundered galleon laden with racks and thumbscrews and such like, blessed ma chinery for the propagation of the faith. Let him abide. If he were a Just man. God would reward htm. They would leave the matter to him. Then Saul Mark, seeing himself deserted and growing afraid, csled aloud: "The se cretthe secret! I have a secret that will make you and your church richer than Kings of Castile and Arragonr wealthier than the mines of PotosL I swear It. De liver me and I will reveal the secret." They turned about end consulted. Saul cried aloud again with even greater ve hemence. "Save me deliver me. I swear I have the secret I and only I." The abbot and the Jesuit came slowly bock. Saul stood eagerly waiting, his eyes flaming and the perepl ration running down from his flnger-tlpa. They bent their ears and he whispered, long. The look of un belief with which they began gradually merged Into a growing surprise. Then awe took Its place, and lastly, they cried out a simultaneous question: "Where is it? Tell us where." Then a cunning look passed over the face of Saul Mark. He was not a second time going to give something for nothing. "Only I can guide you thither," he said aloud. Then in a tevr moments they bade cast him loose, and he begged that the com panion whom he loved and could not be separated from night or day might go with him. This also was allowed. As the two passed the carriage of tho Governor's lady, Saul Mark spoke a word, loud enough to be heard within: "Do not fear," he said: "I will not shorten my pleasure oy revealing your secret. Our loving service to you, Jf Janet! Sleep sound tonight. Old friend are near!" T be continued- First Essential. "I understand you hope to make a great musician of your sonr "Yes, indeed." "Whom have you selected to teach himr "Oh, we haven't advanced that far yet. At present he's giving all his time to the aoctor, who guarantees- to make his hair Ita""- -"c ncara 1..1. A . .. ..... .